BD Launches Family of Syringes Which Addresses Environmental Impact and Meets a Variety of Clinical Needs

FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, August 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

BD Medical, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), today announced the launch of the BD Emerald™ Syringe portfolio designed to meet emerging needs in medication delivery while addressing environmental impact by reducing material. The BD Emerald Syringe portfolio includes the BD Emerald™ Conventional Syringe for general medication preparation and delivery, the BD Emerald Saf-T™ Syringe with a shielding mechanism to protect against needlesticks and the BD Emerald PRO™ Reuse Prevention Syringe featuring a passive locking system to prevent reuse.

The BD Emerald product family is designed sustainably with input from clinicians around the world. The product family is also supported by the Company's long-standing history and commitment to developing first-class injection devices supported by clinical education programs to improve the delivery of healthcare. The BD Emerald Syringes will be manufactured at facilities in Spain, India and Brazil, utilizing sustainable manufacturing practices, including 100 percent renewable electricity for production where available. The syringes meet the International Organization and Standardization requirements, and satisfy local registration standards.

"BD recognizes that human health and a healthy environment are inseparable," said Bill Kozy, Executive Vice President, BD. "We are committed to responsible environmental stewardship in our business conduct. The BD Emerald Syringes meet our highest standards for product quality while also reducing environmental impact by using less material and sustainable operations practices."

The BD Emerald Syringe family offers features to prevent the spread of infection, address environmental impact, address clinical needs and meet quality standards around the world:

• BD Emerald Saf-T Syringe is designed to address the needs of healthcare workers who require protection from needlestick injuries.
• BD Emerald PRO is designed to address the needs of the developing world. The infection control issue at the forefront of healthcare delivery in these regions is preventing reuse of injection devices and the potential spread of pathogens from patient to patient.
• All syringes in the BD Emerald Syringe product family are designed to reduce medical waste effects in communities everywhere.

The BD Emerald Syringe product line builds upon BD's sustainability commitment, which has been recognized for achievements in environmental stewardship. In Newsweek's 2010 "Green Rankings" of the 500 largest U.S. corporations, BD ranked second in the Healthcare sector and 24th overall. As part of its commitment to sustainability, BD's worldwide headquarters and three of BD's U.S. manufacturing sites are offsetting 100 percent of their electricity use with renewable energy through green power purchases and renewable energy credits. To learn more about environmental stewardship at BD, visit http://www.bd.com/sustainability.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit http://www.bd.com.

Contact:
Alyssa Zeff
Public Relations
+1-201-847-4358
alyssa_zeff@bd.com